I had a bit of an internal fracas today as I was about to hire someone to create my website for me – good old Imran, the man who designed this very webpage that you’re reading at the moment.

There was a bit of an ethical dilemma on my part, because as I was trying to decide on the hiring decision, Si Eian had come in to recommend me a high school friend of his who wanted to do the job for a little more cheaply than I had been planning to work with Imran for ($400 as opposed to $500).

It led me to think a little bit there – would that $100 help me out a bit and would it save me? Would it not be prudent to save a little bit of money?

Well, I decided to go with Imran.

Partly, it’s a question of ethics – I did already tell Imran that I wanted to go with his services – but partly, it was also a question of quality and making the thing happen within a reasonable timeframe because the other freelancer was only able to deliver in two weeks; I’m not one to have a project delayed, so I went with the more expensive option.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that this guy offered his services and came out there to make me the offer – it just felt wrong to give up on someone that I’d promised that I was going to do something.

Over the years, I think I’ve changed a little bit – one of the things that has changed, from what I can see, is the way that I value small things; common decency, trustworthiness… All little things that circumscribe the way that I interact with people and make choices about who to stay with.

Nowadays, as I walk through this world, I do ask myself a bit – do I want to be a decent person, or do I simply want to gain everything that I can in this world?

Once upon a time, the latter would have been the default answer, no question – but now, the former seems a little better.

Can’t wait for the developments of the next couple days 🙂